Genesis 14:8 KJV

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 14:1-16

Abram’s war with four kings 14:1-16 A major significance of this literary unit is that it describes two more challenges to God’s faithfulness and Abram’s faith. So far Abram had to contend with several barriers to God fulfilling His promises to him. His wife was barren, he had to leave the land, his life was in danger, and his anticipated heir showed no interest in the Promised Land. Now he became involved in a war and consequently became the target of retaliation by four powerful kings. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 14:1-24

The Battle of the Kings, and the Capture and Rescue of LotChedorlaomer, king of Elam, had subdued the Canaanites of the Jordan valley some years before the events narrated in this chapter. The latter had rebelled, and a campaign for their fresh subjugation was undertaken, which included a general punitive expedition from Syria to the Gulf of Akaba.Within the last few years Assyrian tablets of great antiquity have been found, throwing considerable, if indirect, light on this narrative, and... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 14:8

(8) They joined battle with them.—Heb., they set themselves in array against them. As the five kings left their cities to do battle with the invaders “in the vale of Siddim,” it is plain, as was said in Genesis 14:3, that the vale embraces a far wider extent of country than merely the site of the five cities. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 14:1-24

Melchisedek the Uncanonical Genesis 14:18 A deeply veiled figure. The force of the figure lies in its background; its mystery in its mean surroundings. Melchisedek was a Canaanite. His birthplace was uncanonical. He ruled with wonderfully despotic power. What gave this man such a marvellous power? His personal sanctity. Abraham represents earth; Melchisedek is the High Priest of heaven. I. Where did Melchisedek get that priesthood which he was certainly credited with possessing. Melchisedek... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:1-24

ABRAM’S RESCUE OF LOTGenesis 14:1-24THIS chapter evidently incorporates a contemporary account of the events recorded. So antique a document was it even when it found its place in this book, that the editor had to modernise some of its expressions that it might be intelligible. The places mentioned were no longer known by the names here preserved-Bela. the vale of Siddim. En-mishpat, the valley of Shaveh, all these names were unknown even to the persons who dwelt in the places once so... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 14:1-24

CHAPTER 14 The First Recorded War and Lot’s Deliverance 1. The battle of the confederacy (Genesis 14:1-10 ) 2. Sodom and Gomorrah spoiled (Genesis 14:11-13 ) 3. Abram’s rescue (Genesis 14:14-16 ) 4. Sodom’s king to meet Abram (Genesis 14:17 ) 5. Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20 ) 6. The king’s offer and Abram’s answer (Genesis 14:21-24 ) The record of the first war is here foreshadowing the last great warfare still to come. Amraphel, King of Shinar, has been historically located by... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 14:1-24

THE WORLD'S CONFLICT We read now for the first time in scripture of war among nations of the ungodly world. Abram has no part in this. It is recorded mainly because of Lot. Four kings war against five. The names of the four kings have meanings that imply a religious significance, the first one, Amraphel meaning "sayer of darkness," and Shinar meaning "change of the city." Thus false religion can speak in dark, mystical ways with the object of improving (not saving or converting) people. In... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:1-24

THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT THE CONFEDERATED KINGS (Genesis 14:1-12 ) How does the Revised Version translate “nations” in Genesis 14:17 In what valley was the battle joined (Genesis 14:3 )? How is that valley now identified? Against what six peoples did Chedorlaomer and his confederates campaign in the fourteenth year (Genesis 14:5-7 )? You will find these peoples located on the east and south of the Dead Sea. Who were victors in this case (Genesis 14:10 )? How did they reward themselves... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Genesis 14:1-24

1. And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel [the representative of Nimrod, the founder of the Babylonian empire] king of Shinar [Babel], Arioch king of Ellasar [the Larissa of the Greeks], Chedorlaomer king of Elam [the most powerful of the Asiatic princes], and Tidal king of nations [chief of several nomad tribes]; 2. That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 3. All... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Genesis 14:5-13

And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. Abram might be called the Hebrew, either from Eber, his ancestory as above, or else from his having passed the Euphrates, when he became a passenger, or pilgrim, in the land of Canaan. read more